Twyla Tharp News

Opera Colorado today announced the appointment of Ari Pelto as the first Music Director in its history and the extension of Greg Carpenter's role as General Director through 2018. Pelto fills an important new role at the Company—partnering with Carpenter to further Opera Colorado's mission, increase and diversify its programming and repertory, build the national scope of its Young Artists program, and further extend the Company's reach through engagements in venues outside of the traditional opera house. Pelto will serve as Music Director designee beginning July 1, 2015 and take the helm as Music Director beginning July 1, 2016.

Centenary Stage Company's Young Performers work tirelessly to perfect their dance moves, learn all of their lines, and get their vocal harmonies just right for the culmination of their training session and this spring is no exception! These talented young thespians between the ages of 8 and 18 will fill the Little Theater with a variety of shows and musicals to entertain audiences of all ages May 29th - June 7th with their annual Spring Festival of Shows. The Young Performers Workshop (YPW) has been hailed as a "state treasure" by Peter Filichia of the Star Ledger and brings in youth from Morris, Warren, Hunterdon and Sussex counties. This spring, the festival will feature How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, Gypsy, and American Sampler: 100 Years of Broadway Dance.  Performances will be held on select dates in the Little Theatre on the campus of Centenary College at 400 Jefferson Street in Hackettstown. 

Generations around the world have grown up with Fiddler on the Roof and such unforgettable, iconic songs as "If I Were a Rich Man" and "Sunrise, Sunset." But getting to the "final Fiddler" was a fascinating process, and on May 30, 31 and June 1-closing the 2015 Lyrics & Lyricists season-lyricist Sheldon Harnick takes us inside the creation and history of this cultural landmark.

Chester Theatre Company Artistic Director Byam Stevens has been engaged by American Ballet Theatre to conceive, direct and produce, in partnership with ABT Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie, the company's 75th Anniversary Gala celebration. The Gala will take place at the Metropolitan Opera House on Monday, May 18. 

Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (The Wallis -- Tania Camargo, Managing Director; Patricia Wolff, Interim Artistic Director; James D'Asaro, Interim Producing Director) announce Artistic Advisors and programming for the 2015-2016 Season, opening October 1-3 with Twyla Tharp: a 50th Anniversary Celebration, a program of new work by Ms. Tharp, co-commissioned by The Wallis (in partnership with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Joyce Theatre, Ravina Festival Association & Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University and Texas International Theatrical Arts Society).

Choreographers Kyle Abraham, Jessica Lang and Reggie Wilson have been awarded New York City Center's 2015 Choreography Fellowships. The Fellowship supports choreographers at critical stages in their careers and reflects City Center's long history of nurturing dance makers, from George Balanchine to Christopher Wheeldon.

Texas Performing Arts continues to present world-class performances to the University of Texas at Austin and Central Texas audiences with the unveiling of the 2015-2016 season. This season highlights talent from around the world in a diverse mix of music, theatre, and dance.

Choreographer Jeanette Stoner, known for her very individual sense of dance/theater, often using the spoken word, will present her Jeanette Stoner and Dancers in two world premieres and repertory, performed by an ensemble of artists who have worked with Stoner over the years and are mature interpreters of her vision. Noted choreographer Zvi Gotheiner, who has created the lighting for the Company for years, also returns as lighting designer. Four performances in the Stoner Loft, 83 Leonard Street (#1 train to Franklin, loft is on Leonard between Broadway and Church), Today through Tuesday, May 2-5 at 8 PM.

Centenary Stage Company's Young Performers work tirelessly to perfect their dance moves, learn all of their lines, and get their vocal harmonies just right for the culmination of their training session and this spring is no exception! These talented young thespians between the ages of 8 and 18 will fill the Little Theater with a variety of shows and musicals to entertain audiences of all ages May 29th - June 7th with their annual Spring Festival of Shows. The Young Performers Workshop (YPW) has been hailed as a 'state treasure' by Peter Filichia of the Star Ledger and brings in youth from Morris, Warren, Hunterdon and Sussex counties. This spring, the festival will feature How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, Gypsy, and American Sampler: 100 Years of Broadway Dance. Performances will be held on select dates in the Little Theatre on the campus of Centenary College at 400 Jefferson Street in Hackettstown.

The 5th Annual Dance Against Cancer was held on Monday, April 27, 2015.  The event had over 500 guests attend and raised more than $243,000 for the American Cancer Society that will benefit research initiatives and patient and family service programs.

On Friday, June 12, 2015 from 12:00pm to 3:00pm at the Cherry Valley Country Club in Skillman, NJ, Princeton Ballet School, the official school of American Repertory Ballet, will host its second annual fashion show: 'Turn Out for Fashion.' All proceeds of this event will support the Princeton Ballet School Scholarship Fund. Before the Fashion Show, on May 2, American Repertory Ballet will participate in Lord & Taylor's 'Charity Day: Shop Smart Do Good,' supporting Women's Health in our community.

BC Beat, the bi-annual choreography showcase established to support, explore and experience innovative theatrical dance, announces a line up for Monday May 18th featuring nine choreographers with work performed by a company of 40 artists from Broadway's biggest hits.  The evening kicks off at 7pm with music by DJ Justin Johnston (RENT) at Cielo (18 Little W. 12th Street). 

ROLEX presents Career Transition For Dancers' 30TH ANNIVERSARY PEARL JUBILEE: A STAR-STUDDED RETROSPECTIVE on Monday, September 28, at 7:00 pm at New York City Center, 131 West 55 Street (btwn. 6  & 7  Aves) NYC followed by "Supper With The Stars" at The Grand Ballroom at The Hilton New York. The 2015 Rolex Dance Award reciepent is Shirley MacLaine.

Wharton Center's 2015-2016 season has nine Broadway blockbusters, a handful of superstars making their premiere at the Center and many brand-new titles. Executive Director Mike Brand says, "It's a magical season; really a Broadway bonanza that will satisfy the hunger our audiences have for the best shows on tour!"

This year's Jacob's Pillow Dance Award, a prestigious honor carrying an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize, will be presented to contemporary choreographer Liz Gerring in recognition of her talent and outstanding contributions to the dance field. Active in the dance world for nearly 20 years, Gerring regularly garners acclaim for her 'enthralling and important' works (Alastair Macaulay, The New York Times) that also 'reveals the dancers as the splendid athletes that they are' (dance critic Deborah Jowitt). Gerring will accept the Award and members of Liz Gerring Dance Company will perform at the Pillow's Season Opening Gala on Saturday, June 20 in the Ted Shawn Theatre. The company will return to perform the evening-length work glacier in the Doris Duke Theatre August 19-23. Previous recipients of the Jacob's Pillow Dance Award include tap artist Michelle Dorrance, the legendary choreographer Merce Cunningham, 2013 MacArthur Fellow Kyle Abraham, and Tony Award winner and director of New York Live Arts Bill T. Jones, among others.

FRANCES CHUNG and TIIT HELIMETS, principal dancers of the San Francisco Ballet, will appear as guest artists in the Allen Civic Ballet/Allen Philharmonic's joint production of Swan Lake Act III on May 16, 2015 at the Performing Arts Center at Allen High School in Allen, Texas. Ms. Chung and Mr. Helimets will be dancing the Black Swan Pas de Deux as part of this production. Ms. Chung and Mr. Helimets will also teach master classes prior to this performance.

Today, April 17, 2015 at 5:15 pm, American Repertory Ballet will host 'Dancing Your Way into College,' an On Pointe enrichment series event. This event will be held at ARB's Princeton studios, located in the Princeton Shopping Center (301 North Harrison Street, above McCaffrey's). This event is free and open to the public.